Automatic weighing device



May 14 194-0: J.'W. HARRIMAN AUTOMATIC WEIGHING DEVICE 938 3 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May 7,, l

- INVENTORL JOHN W. HA BY RR/MA/vi HIS ATTORNEYS.

May 14, 19409 1 J. w. HARREMAN AUTOMATIC WE IGHING DEVICE Filad May 7, 1 938 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN W HARP/MAN HIS ATTORNEYS.

May 14, 1940. J. w. HARRIMAN AUTOMATIC WEIGHING DEVICE Filed May 7, 195$ Sheets-Sheet 3 I'l l ll INVENTOR. JOHN W HARE/MAN H/S ATTORNEYS.

BY I

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic weighing device; and an object of the invention is to provide a device for opening standard self-closing valves automatically by the weight of a recep' 5 tacle, such as an empty bucket or pail suspended from the device, in combination with means for causing the valve to close when a predetermined amount of weight of liquid has been discharged through the valve and into the bucket or pail.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic weighing device compris-- ing a pivoted element for supporting a bucket or pail and adapted to be operated by an empty bucket or pail supported thereby, in combination ,15 with means operated by said element for opening a valve to permit flow of liquid therethrough into said bucket or pail and thereby increase the force applied to said element with the result that said element is operated to a position in which said element no longer controls the valve but leaves the valve free to be closed by the self-closing mechanism associated therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved automatic weighing device including a pivoted lever or support adapted to sustain an empty bucket or pail in position to receive fluid discharged through a valve, means operated by said lever or support for opening the valve when said lever or support is moved by the empty 30 bucket or pail suspended therefrom, means controlling extent of movement of said lever or support by the empty bucket or pail supported thereby and controlling further movement of said lever or support by the bucket or pail and the liquid 35 contained therein until said lever or support is moved beyond position to control the valve, thereby leaving the valve free to be closed by the usual device provided for that purpose.

Various other objects and advantages of the 40 invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one satisfactory embodiment of the invention.

5 Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

I Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the invention, showing the lever or support in one of the positions it occupies when the valve is held open 50 thereby. I

Fig. 4 is asectional view of one type of several types of standard self-closing valves with which the invention may be satisfactorily combined.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with parts in section 55 of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a part of the can supporting lever and the combined resistance and return spring device therefor.

Fig. '7 is arear elevation of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view showing the device arranged to discharge water or other liquid from one side of a wall to the other.

Fig. 9 is a broken side elevation with parts in section showing connections for operating a remote valve within the scope of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the valve and the immediate connections for operating the same.

The valve shown in Fig. 4 (sheet 2) is only for illustrative purposes and is one of several well known and satisfactory types of standard selfclosing valves. This valve comprises a fitting or valve housing I having at one end an internally threaded portion 2 adapted to be screwed into connection with a liquid supply pipe 3 and having at its opposite end an internally threaded portion 4 adapted to be engaged with a nozzle 5. This fitting or valve housing has therein a valve seat 6 provided with an opening or passage 1 through which water or other liquid may flow for discharge'through the nozzle 5. fhe valve seat 6 is on the infiuent side of the opening "I.

A valve 8 equipped with a seating member 9 adapted to engage the valve seat 6 to close the valve and to be moved from said valve seat to open the valve, is attached to the inner end of a valve stem [0. The valve stem [0 extends for sliding movements 1 through a washer ll and through a packing gland l2 screwed onto the lateral extension [3 of the fitting or valve housing I. A spring [4 is mounted between the valve 8 and the washer H and functions to press the valve 8 to closed position against the seat 6.

An arm which may be of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or of the form shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 9, is operatively connected with the stem Hi. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said arm I5 is mounted on the outer end of the valve stem I0 and, when moved in a counter-clockwise direction from the dotted line position in Fig. 2 to the solid line position, will move the valve stem longitudinally to an extent to .open. the valve. A cam surface 15 is formed on theouter end por tion of the arm l5 for cooperative engagement with the valve operating mechanism. In the form shown in Figs. l, 5, 8 and 9, the arm It has a hole through which the valve stem 10 extends and has a hub ll enclosing the outer end of the gland IL. A nut i5 screwed on the threaded outer end of the valve stem it! presses the arm i5 against an annular series of balls is supported by a ring 2d mounted on the valve stem it and seating in cavities in the end of the valve i2. As is known, the arm i6 is formed with cams 2! operating against the cam balls i5 so that, when the arm iii (Figs. 5, 8 and 9) is moved in a counter-clookwise direction for a short distance, the cams 2! operating against the cam bails i3 will move the stem 53 outwardly in opposition to the spring M and thereby open the valve 5 to permit water or other liquid to flow from the pipe 3 through the passage l and the nozzle 5. The arm it may be rotative about the stem it as an axis so that said stem ill need not be rotated by the arm 46. When the arm i5 is released after having been moved in counter-clockwise direction (Figs. 5, 8 and 9), as described, the spring 54 immediately closes the valve 8 and stops further flow of liquid through the nozzle 5.

The arm l5 (Figs. 1 and 2) is moved in a counter-clockwise direction by a pawl 22 mounted on a pivot '23 on a downward eitension 24 of a lever 25. The upper end of the pawl 22 forms a knuckle joint 25 with a shoulder on the extension 24 of the lever 25. In the unoperated position of the lever 25, the lower end of the pawl 22 extends downwardly against the front or clockwise side of the arm l5 adjacent to the cam !5. When the empty receptacle 2? is suspended on the hook 28, the weight thereof depresses the free end of the lever 25 and thereby causes the pawl 22 to move the arm iii in counter-clockwise direction suflicient to open the valve, such as the valve 8, and to hold said valve open for a time. When the valve 8 is opened, water flows past said valve and thence through the nozzle 5 and into the receptacle 21, thereby progressively increasing the weight suspended from the end of the lever 25.

A spring 29 connects one end of the lever 25 with an adjusting member 30, and said spring and adjusting member are moved upwardly by the weight of the receptacle 2! and the liquid therein. As the receptacle becomes filled with liquid and the weight thereof is increased, the suspending end of the lever 25 is moved down wardly to a further extent. When a predetermined amount of liquid has been discharged into the receptacle 21, the lower end of the pawl 22 moves beyond and out of engagement with the cam end 15' of the arm 55 and the valve 8 is thereupon closed to prevent any further flow of liquid thereby. The valve will then remain closed irrespective of whether the receptacle remains on the hook 28 or not. When the receptacle Zl is removed from the hook 28, the weight on the opposite end of the lever 25 swings the lever to the position shown in Fig. l, causing a cam surface 3i on the lower end of the pawl 22 to rub against the end of the arm I5 and thereby permit the pawl to move to the position shown in Fig. 1. Thus the lever 25 and the pawl 22 are automatically returned to their unoperated positions ready for another operation. by an. empty receptacle suspended on the book 28.

As shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9, an adjustable abutment 32 may be attached to the end of the arm H5 in substitution for the cam !5 for engagement by a pawl 53 pivoted on an operating lever '34 (Figs. 5 and 8) or on an operating lever 35 (Fig. 9). Extent of swinging movement of the pawl 33 is limited by lugs 35 (Figs. 5 and 8) and by analogous lugs 31 (Fig. 9)

In Fig. 5, the lever 34 is formed with a suspending hook 38 for the receptacle 2"! and with an arm 39 adapted to engage a plunger 30 mounted for sliding movements in a barrel 4! enclosing a spring 42 the tension of which may be varied by a regulating screw 43 screwed into the open end of the barrel 4|, as shown. When the empty receptacle is suspended on the hook 38 (Fig. 5), the lever 34 is operated to open the valve 8; and, when the receptacle is sufficiently filled, the pawl 33 escapes beyond the abutment 32 and the valve is immediately closed irrespective of whether the receptacle is removed from the hook 38 or not. When the receptacle is removed from the hook 38, the counterweight 44 on the lever 34, and the spring 42 acting against the arm 38, cooperate to move the lever 34 to its unoperated position, as shown.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, an arm 45 on the lever 34 is connected by a link 46 with an arm 41 of a lever 48 on the opposite side of the wall 49 from the lever 34. In this arrangement, the water supply mechanism including the valve and the lever 34 for opening the same may be within a building and the operating and discharge mechanism therefor may be on the outside of the building. In this arrangement, a nozzle 50 analogous to the nozzle 5 is connected by a hose connection 5! with a nozzle 52 on the outside of the wall 49 and attached to a supporting member 53 which is secured to the wall 55 and also supports the lever 48. When the empty receptacle is suspended from the hook 5d of the lever 48, said lever and the connections therefrom to the lever 34 are operated to an extent to open the valve 8 and permit liquid to flow past said valve and to be discharged through the nozzle 58 into the nozzle 52 and into the receptacle. When a suffilcient amount of liquid has been discharged into the receptacle, the pawl 33 escapes from the abutment 32, as is obvious from the description of Fig. 5.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the lever 35 has an arm 55 to which is pivoted the lower end of a link 56 the upper end of which is pivoted to one end of a lever 51 analogous to the levers 25, 34 and 48, and having on one end a hook 58 adapted to support a receptacle 21 to receive water from a nozzle 59 the same as the receptacle receives water from the nozzles 5 and 52. In this form of the invention, the valve mechanism including the arm l6 and the lever 35 is located below a wall or floor 5i? and within a protecting enclosure 6|. A pipe 62 is connected with the valve housing I and the nozzle 59 is attached to the upper end of said pipe 62 for discharging water passing through said pipe from the valve housing. The device may be extended to any height desired and above the floor a protecting enclosure 63 may be provided for the pipe 62. The lever 58 has an arm 54 operating against a plunger 65 which is actuated by a spring 56 within a spring barrel 6'! and provided with an adjusting screw device 68. This spring barrel arrangement is similar to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and heretofore described. When a receptacle 21 is suspended on the hook 58 in position to receive liquid from the nozzle 59, said receptacle will operate the lever 51 and thereby the lever 35 to move the arm IS in a counter-clockwise direction to open the valve 9 and permit Water to flow upwardly through the valve housing I and the pipe 62 and thence through the nozzle 58 into the receptacle. When the receptacle is filled to the proper extent, the

-pawl 33 escapes from the abutment 32, permitting the valve to be closed by the spring M, as hereinbefore explained.

This form of the device may include a fitting 69 for connecting the pipe 62 with the valve housing l, and this fitting includes a lateral tubular extension Hi opening into a pipe H for conducting liquid therefrom to any desired point of discharge. The opening through the extension 10 may be controlled by a slide valve 32 pivotally connected by a link 13 with the arm is. When the arm I6 is in its starting position and the valve 9 is closed, the valve 12 leaves open the passage 14 through the extension Til, as may be seen by reference to Fig. 9. Thus, when the valve 9 is closed and the arm [6 is in its unoperated position, the water or other liquid in the pipe 62 may flow therefrom through the opening 14 in the extension T0 and thence through the discharge pipe !I to the original source of supply, or any other point of discharge. The first move ment of the arm 62 to open the valve 9 moves the valve [2 far enough to closethe opening and prevent flow of liquid therethrough so long as the valve 9 remains open.

Other means for supporting the receptacles 2'! to operate the valves may be provided, and the illustration and description of the specific levers therefor do not constitute a limitation in this particular.

Other variations of the invention than those specifically suggested may be made without departure from the nature and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Mechanism for operating a valve having an operating stem comprising an arm attached to said stem for pivotal swinging movements about the axis thereof to operate the same, a pivoted lever, a pawl pivotally supported by said lever for engaging said arm to operate the same about the axis of said stem and operate said valve as aforesaid, means for supporting a receptacle in connection with said lever to operate said lever and thereby swing said arm and operate said valve as aforesaid and to move said pawl out of engagement with said arm by continued movement of said lever, and means for closing said valve after said pawl has moved out of engagement with said arm.

2. The combination with a longitudinally movable valve and a spring for closing said valve, of an arm attached to said valve for pivotal swinging movements about the axis of movement of said valve for opening the same in opposition to said spring, a lever, a pawl pivotally supported and operated by said lever for engaging and pivotally moving said arm as aforesaid, means for supporting a receptacle in connection with said lever to operate said lever and thereby said arm to open said valve and in position to receive liquid discharged through said valve when said valve is opened by operation of said arm by said lever, said pawl being released from said arm by continued operation of said lever when a predetermined amount of liquid has been received in said receptacle, and means for restoring said lever to unoperated position when the receptacle is removed therefrom.

3. The combination with a longitudinally movable self-closing valve having an arm attached thereto for pivotal swinging movements about the axis of movement of said valve to open the same, of a lever, a pawl pivotally connected with and operated by said lever for engaging and swinging said arm as aforesaid to open said valve, means for supporting a receptacle in connection with said lever to swing the same and thereby operate said arm as aforesaid to open said valve and to disengage said pawl from said arm by continued movement of said lever, and means for closing said valve while said receptacle remains supported by said lever and after a predetermined amount of liquid has passed through said valve and into said receptacle and said pawl has been disengaged from said arm.

4. The combination with a longitudinally movable self-closing valve having an arm attached thereto for pivotal swinging movements about the axis of movement of said valve to open the same, of a lever, a pawl pivotally connected with and operated by said lever for engaging and swinging said arm as aforesaid to open said valve, means for supporting a receptacle in connection with said lever to swing the same and thereby operate said arm as aforesaid to open said valve and to disengage said pawl from said arm by continued movement of said lever, means for closing said valve while said receptacle remains supported by said lever and after a predetermined amount of liquid has passed through said valve and. into said receptacle and said pawl has been disengaged from said arm, and means for restoring said lever to position for another operation when the receptacle is removed therefrom.

5. Mechanism for operating a valve having an operating stem comprising an arm mounted on said stem for swinging movements about the axis thereof, a pivoted lever, a pawl pivotally supported by said lever for engaging and swinging said arm in one direction about the axis of said stem, means for supporting a receptacle to operate said lever and thereby said pawl to swing said arm as aforesaid and to move said pawl out of engagement with said arm by continued movement of said lever, and means for closing said valve after said pawl has been moved out of engagement with said arm by said receptacle.

6. The combination with a longitudinally movable valve and a spring for closing said valve, of an arm attached to said valve for swinging movements about the axis of movement of said valve, a lever, a pawl pivotally supported and operated by said lever for engaging and moving said arm in one direction about and at right angles to the axis of said valve, means for supporting a receptacle in a relationship to operate said lever and cause said pawl to engage and move said arm and in position to receive liquid discharged through said valve when said valve is opened by operation of said arm by said lever, said pawl being released from said arm by continued operation of said lever when a predetermined amount of liquid has been received in said receptacle, and means cooperating with said arm to open said valve when said arm is moved by said lever and leaving said valve free to be closed by said spring after said pawl is released from said arm irrespective of the position of said lever.

'7. The combination with a longitudinally movable self-closing valvehaving an arm attached thereto for swinging movements about the axis of movement of said valve, and means cooperating with said arm for opening said valve when said arm is moved in one direction about said axis as aforesaid, of a lever, a pawl pivotally connected with and operated by said lever for engaging and moving said arm in said direction, means for supporting a receptacle in position to operate said lever and thereby said pawl to move said arm in said direction to open said valve and to disengage said pawl from said arm by continued movement thereof by said lever, and means for closing said valve while said receptacle remains supported as aforesaid and after a predetermined amount of liquid has passed through said valve and into said receptacle and said pawl has been disengaged from said arm.

8. The combination with a longitudinally movable self-closing valve having an arm attached thereto for swinging movements about the axis of movement of said valve, and means for opening said valve when said arm is moved in one direc tion as aforesaid, of a lever, a pawl pivotally connected with and operated by said lever for engaging and moving said arm in said direction to open said valve, means for supporting a receptacle in position to operate said lever and thereby said pawl to move said arm in said direction to open said valve and to disengage said pawl from said arm by continued movement thereof by said lever, means for closing said valve while said receptacle remains supported as aforesaid and after a predetermined amount of liquid has passed through said valve and into said receptacle and said pawl has been disengaged from said arm, and elements for restoring said lever and thereby said pawl to position for another operation when said receptacle is removed from said position.

9. Mechanism for operating a valve having an operating stem comprising an arm attached to said stem for swinging movements about the axis thereof, a pivoted lever, a pawl pivotally supported by said lever for moving said arm in one direction about the axis of said stem as aforesaid, means for operating said lever and thereby said pawl to move said arm in said direction about the axis of said stem and to release said pawl from said arm, means cooperating with said arm to open said valve when said arm is moved as aforesaid, and means for closing said valve and thereby returning said arm to its starting position after said pawl is released therefrom as aforesaid.

10. Mechanism for operating a valve having an operating stem comprising an arm attached to said stem for swinging movements about the axis thereof, a pivoted lever, a pawl pivotally supported by said lever for moving said arm in one direction about the axis of said stem as aforesaid, means for operating said lever and thereby said pawl to move said arm in said direction as aforesaid and to release said pawl from said arm, means for opening said valve when said arm is moved as aforesaid, means for closing said valve and thereby returning said arm to its starting position after said pawl is released therefrom as aforesaid, and a spring for restoring said lever and said pawl to position for another operation of said arm.

11. Mechanism for operating a movable valve comprising an arm connected with said valve for swinging movements in opposite directions about the axis of movement of said valve from and to a starting position, means for opening said valve when said arm is moved from said starting position, means for closing said valve when said arm is moved to said starting position, a lever, a pawl pivoted on said lever for moving said valve from said starting position, mechanism for operating said lever and thereby said pawl to move said arm from said starting position to open said valve and to move said pawl out of engagement with said arm, and mechanism for restoring said arm and thereby said pawl to their starting positions preparatory for another operation of said arm. 1

JOHN W. HARRIMAN. 

